Quad Cities Community Foundation welcomes new board members

The Quad Cities Community Foundation welcomed three new individuals to their Board of Directors this month, moving the organization forward with its mission to continue to transform the region through the generosity of donors.

Cristy Tackett-Hunt, Aaron Tennant, and Jeff Trahan (pictured left to right) were recently approved as new board members of the Community Foundation, and have begun serving their first three-year term.

"We are fortunate to have committed, talented, creative community members and professionals who serve on our board," said newly-appointed Board Chairperson Jill McLaughlin, who took over leadership of the board this month from Pete Wessels. "We are thrilled to welcome Cristy, Aaron, and Jeff, who bring with them a wealth of experience and knowledge in nonprofits, business and philanthropy."

Tackett-Hunt is an attorney, and first became connected with the Community Foundation through the WOW Giving Circle in 2009. She moved to the Quad Cities in 1999 and has served as President of Junior League of the Quad Cities, a member of the Project Lead the Way Advisory Council, a classroom volunteer for Junior Achievement, and a member of the Community Foundation's Emerging Issues Committee.

The Community Foundation is a good fit for her interests and passions, she said, and she is looking forward to having a better understanding of what areas in the community need most attention. "Any connection with the Community Foundation has been intentional and strategic," she said. "I wanted to know more about the community in the way of good works. This lets me do that."

Tennant is the founder of Total Solutions, a company he started in 2015 that offers accounting, payroll, information technology, employee leasing and HR services to small and medium-sized businesses. He is also a former CEO of Tennant Truck Lines, Inc., and has been an active member on several boards and committees, including the Truckload Carriers Association and the American Trucking Association. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce, John Deere Classic, Trinity Health Foundation, and the Putnam Museum.

Trahan, who is Vice President of Pension Funds and Investments at John Deere Company, has served on the Community Foundation's Investment Committee for five years and said he is looking forward to diving deeper into philanthropic work. "I'm coming at this from lending experience and the financial side," he said. "It's an opportunity to learn something new and be part of something great."

Trahan is a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst, serves on the Financial Relations Committee of the American Financial Services Association, and the Technology Advisory Committee of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

Maintaining a strong Community Foundation Board of Directors is key to helping us be strong community leaders and be aware of the ever-changing needs of our community, said the Community Foundation President and CEO Sherry Ristau. "We continually draw on the strength and vision of the board, and we are grateful for their role in ensuring that we are successful in our mission," she said. "Our new board members bring so much to the table and we are looking forward to working alongside them." welcomed three new individuals to their Board of Directors this month, moving the organization forward with its mission to continue to transform the region through the generosity of donors.

Cristy Tackett-Hunt, Aaron Tennant, and Jeff Trahan (pictured left to right) were recently approved as new board members of the Community Foundation, and have begun serving their first three-year term.

"We are fortunate to have committed, talented, creative community members and professionals who serve on our board," said newly-appointed Board Chairperson Jill McLaughlin, who took over leadership of the board this month from Pete Wessels. "We are thrilled to welcome Cristy, Aaron, and Jeff, who bring with them a wealth of experience and knowledge in nonprofits, business and philanthropy."

Tackett-Hunt is an attorney, and first became connected with the Community Foundation through the WOW Giving Circle in 2009. She moved to the Quad Cities in 1999 and has served as President of Junior League of the Quad Cities, a member of the Project Lead the Way Advisory Council, a classroom volunteer for Junior Achievement, and a member of the Community Foundation's Emerging Issues Committee.

The Community Foundation is a good fit for her interests and passions, she said, and she is looking forward to having a better understanding of what areas in the community need most attention. "Any connection with the Community Foundation has been intentional and strategic," she said. "I wanted to know more about the community in the way of good works. This lets me do that."

Tennant is the founder of Total Solutions, a company he started in 2015 that offers accounting, payroll, information technology, employee leasing and HR services to small and medium-sized businesses. He is also a former CEO of Tennant Truck Lines, Inc., and has been an active member on several boards and committees, including the Truckload Carriers Association and the American Trucking Association. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce, John Deere Classic, Trinity Health Foundation, and the Putnam Museum.

Trahan, who is Vice President of Pension Funds and Investments at John Deere Company, has served on the Community Foundation's Investment Committee for five years and said he is looking forward to diving deeper into philanthropic work. "I'm coming at this from lending experience and the financial side," he said. "It's an opportunity to learn something new and be part of something great."

Trahan is a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst, serves on the Financial Relations Committee of the American Financial Services Association, and the Technology Advisory Committee of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

Maintaining a strong Community Foundation Board of Directors is key to helping us be strong community leaders and be aware of the ever-changing needs of our community, said the Community Foundation President and CEO Sherry Ristau. "We continually draw on the strength and vision of the board, and we are grateful for their role in ensuring that we are successful in our mission," she said. "Our new board members bring so much to the table and we are looking forward to working alongside them."